The pro-Russian authorities welcomed, on Tuesday, September 27, the results of the referendums on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia. These referendums, considered as a “masquerade” according to Paris and disputed by many Western countries, led according to the pro-Russians to the victory of the “yes” to the annexation. On the humanitarian level, a ship loaded with 1,000 tonnes of French aid will leave Marseilles on Wednesday. Franceinfo returns to the highlights of Tuesday, September 27 on the front of the war in Ukraine.
“Yes” to annexation wins in four occupied Ukrainian regions
This is the major event of the day, which consecrates Vladimir Putin’s political offensive in Ukraine: the pro-Russian authorities of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporijjia, Kherson, Lugansk and Donesk have claimed victory for the “yes” in favor of annexation by Russia, during the annexation referendums organized by Moscow.
Moscow has also once again brandished the threat of nuclear weapons to defend these territories, which represent more than 20% of the surface of Ukraine. A position confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who recalled Russian military doctrine, which provides for the possibility of such strikes in the event of an attack against Russian territory.
Zelensky replies to the pro-Russian authorities of the occupied regions
In a video posted on Telegram, Volodymyr Zelensky assured that Ukraine would act to defend its people. “We will act to protect our people: both in the Kherson region, in the Zaporizhia region, in the Donbass (and also) in the currently occupied areas of the Kharkiv region and in Crimea”said the Ukrainian president in his first reaction after the announcement of the results by the pro-Russian authorities.
Westerners massively condemn these referendums
The allies of Ukraine have denounced these elections, organized in an emergency in the face of the progress of the forces of kyiv. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs reiterated at a Security Council meeting on Tuesday on these annexation referendums, the UN’s support for “territorial integrity of Ukraine” in his “recognized borders”.
The G7 has sworn not to “never recognize” the results and Washington promised a retort “strict” through economic sanctions. Through the voice of its ambassador to the UN, China called for respect for “the territorial integrity of all countries”.
The stalled peace process
“It’s clear and understandable” that kyiv cannot discuss under these conditions, assured in the evening the Ukrainian president. “Russia’s recognition of the ‘pseudo-referendums’ as ‘normal’, the implementation of the (same) scenario as in Crimea and yet another attempt to annex part of Ukrainian territory means that we do not have to discuss with the current Russian president”he had first said in a video recorded and broadcast during a meeting of the Security Council of the international organization.
For Catherine Colonna, the hour of dialogue necessary to end the conflict is not “still come”. “I don’t think that, on either side, the time is yet to open a dialogue again”said Tuesday the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A ship loaded with 1,000 tons of French aid will leave Marseille on Wednesday
A ship will leave the port of Marseille on Wednesday with more than 1,000 tonnes of aid for Ukraine on board. This is the most important humanitarian delivery provided by France since the start of the Russian invasion at the end of February, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday. The operation was announced on August 24 by French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the Ukrainian national holiday.